East Devon Business Initiative
The East Devon Business Initiative (EDBI)
is an innovative and non-profit making networking group launched
by a group of experienced East Devon based business people.
We aim to offer something different and complimentary to
other networking. The 'keystone' of EDBI
is the new EDBI web site (www.edbi.co.uk) coupled
with weekly relaxed club meetings. Become friends & colleagues
of fellow members and maximise your business growth opportunities
via member referrals.
Why not join us as a guest at a couple of breakfast meetings
and meet our members and find out how your business could benefit
from membership.
A Breakfast with Mark Ormod -
Former Royal Marines Commando
This coming Friday 16th September, we have been very
lucky to secure the time and motivational skills of a true
hero.
Mark Ormrod is coming to our meeting on Friday to talk
about his life, challenges and how he re-built his world.
We need to fill the room with people who will benefit and flourish following Mark's presentation and as such this is an open meeting, each member can bring as many
guests as they wish, irrespective of occupation clashes.
Please help us support this opportunity to hear from a hero.
Read more about Mark Ormod
THE EDBI NEEDS YOU!
The
East Devon Business Initiative is currently enjoying a very
successful time but not one to rest on its laurels it is
now embarking on a recruitment drive for new members. We
regularly have guests attend our meetings with many electing
to join but there are some business categories that we feel
would be extremely beneficial to the group as well as to
the individual businesses themselves that we are looking
to recruit.
With this in mind each EDBI Member has been given the
'task' of recruiting a specific business.
Click to view the Business Categories
that we are looking for. If you see a business category
that you feel that you would like to be considered for,
don't wait for the elected EDBI member to contact you, feel
free to contact the EDBI directly and speak with Helen Mattacott
our Chair on 01392 479330.
Every year the EDBI likes to support and raise funds for
local charities. This year we have chosen to support
CLIC Sargent. CLIC Sargent has one simple aim: to ease
the burden of childhood cancer on children, young people
and their families.
Every day 10 families are told that their child has
cancer. Diagnosis comes as an almighty shock as their
world is turned upside down. Treatment usually starts
straightaway and can last up to three years.
Please take time to read more about CLIC Sargent
Since our first official EDBI breakfast in September 2009
interest in the group and membership growth has exceeded expectations;
we now have over 30 members. There is no pressure to bring along
guests but every week we have one or more guests attend one
of our networking breakfasts.
We regularly invite outside speakers to come along and impart
their knowledge and advice.
For a list of forthcoming events and presentations throughout
the year please check our EDBI Events
page for further details.
The EDBI weekly networking breakfasts are held at
Woodbury
Park Hotel & Golf Club. These are exciting times for
the
EDBI
as there are major plans to further increase membership during
the course of our second year. It would appear that we are on
to something good and obviously doing something right. It was
therefore felt that we needed to look for an alternative venue,
one that would cope with the expected increase in club membership
but also offer both EDBI members and guests excellent meeting
room and function facilities as well as the chance for some
of our golfing enthusiasts to tee off following our meetings.
For further information view the
Woodbury
Park Hotel & Golf Club website.
The EDBI Committee 2011 - 2012
| ROLE |
NAME |
| Chairman: |
Helen Mattacott |
| Vice Chairman: |
Peter Chubb |
| Treasurer: |
David Parsons |
| Secretary: |
Mark Bonito |
| Web Site: |
Richard Seymour |
| Business Support/Development Officer: |
John Greengrass |
| Social Events Coordinator: |
Sarah Davey / Paul Cross |
| Fundraising
Coordinator: |
Martin Paver |
Chairman's Message
"It
is a huge privilege for me to take over the Chairmanship of
such a vibrant group of businesspeople. Over the years in
business I have been a member of various networking groups
but rarely, if ever, have I come across a group as committed
as the EDBI. It is well structured and professional, plenty
of business is passed between members but most of all, this
is conducted between a supportive, congenial group of people
with a huge collective experience and expertise in business
management in a variety of sectors.
Unlike other groups, our mission is not just the passing of
referrals and profile raising for our own businesses but the
group provide a forum for plenty of 'value added' elements:
meeting at the fantastic facility of Woodbury Park which
offers our members added benefits; embracing new businesses
as well as established passing on expertise; a comprehensive
programme of speakers on topics of particular relevance to
all of our business members and keeping them up to date on
business developments nationally as well as in Devon and
East Devon in particular.
In addition many of our members have become real friends,
not only those we trust in business but those of similar
minds with whom we can raise money for charity and have
great social events too. Come and join us!"
Helen Mattacott
Chairman
East Devon Business Initiative
New Business Advice Section
The EDBI Business and
Advice section focuses on ways to improve your business
and sales growth within the East Devon area. Much of the information
contained within this area has been put together by members
of the EDBI.
The first business area that we have asked our EDBI members
was to come up with Ten
Top Tips relating to their individual businesses. The list
will be added to and updated on a regular basis so please check
back soon if your business
category isn't listed at the moment.
Top Ten Tips - Business Help & Advice
2011 - 2012 Business Speakers & Focus Week Presentations
Winter's
here and there are still challenging times ahead for many businesses.
The January VAT increase has meant that there are few businesses
that will not be effected by this change in VAT.
With this in mind the East Devon Business Initiative
have looked to organise a series of talks and presentations
at our breakfast/networking meetings.
The EDBI actively encourages its members to present their
businesses and services to the group and we are always looking
to attract external speakers to our meetings. Be sure to look
through our forthcoming EDBI events and presentation slots in
the Events Diary.
The
EDBI would like to extend a big THANK YOU to
all our guest presenters for taking the time to attend our breakfast
meetings and deliver some very informative and rewarding presentations.
Don't forget EDBI breakfasts are held each Friday morning
at Woodbury Park Hotel & Golf Club, Devon. If you would
like to attend our next breakfast meeting then please contact
Helen or Peter to book your place now.
No Better Time To Join
Looking to join one of the fastest growing networking clubs
in East Devon?
Full Membership Weekly and bi-monthly meetings,
full web site presence, exclusive trade category and full involvement
in all EDBI activities.
At £170 for an Annual Membership it has to be seen
as money well spent.
Invite Yourself Along To Breakfast
You don't have to wait to be invited to one of our breakfast
meetings. If you would like to attend simply email treasurer@edbi.co.uk